Convertible end table-desk

ABSTRACT

A typewriter stand and storage cabinet has a working surface on which a typewriter or other equipment can be placed. The working surface is slidably mounted on a carriage assembly which can be retracted into an enclosed storage compartment. A stabilizer depends downwardly from the carriage assembly and extends through an aperture in a bottom platform of the storage compartment when the carriage assembly is in its retracted position. The stabilizer interacts with the storage compartment sidewalls to provide the carriage assembly and associated working surface lateral stability as the carriage assembly is extended from and retracted into its stored position in the storage compartment.

United States Patent Mark i 1 51 'Dec'. 26, 1972 [54] CONVERTIBLE END TABLE-DESK Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam [72] Inventor: Vennlce E. Mark, 1576 Fisk Road S. rm' Huizenga & Cooper E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: March 9, 1971 v A typewnter stand and storage cabmet has a workmg PP N04 1221380 surface'on which a typewriter or other equipment'can be placed. The working surface is slidably mounted on 52 US. 01 ..312/208, 312/21 a carriage assembly which can be retracted into an [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 21/00, A47b 81/00 closed Storage compartment A stabi i er depends [58] Field of Search'.......;.... ..3l2l208, 21 wn ar ly from the carriage assembly and'extends through an aperture in a bottom platform of the [56] I References Cited storage compartment when the carriage assembly is in 1 its retracted position; The stabilizer interacts with the UNITED STATES ATENTS storage compartment sidewalls .to provide the carriage 2,527,407 10/1950 g assembly and associated working surface lateral sta- 2,754,890 7/1956 Rubin... bility as the'carriage assembly is extended from and 2,878,087 3/1959 Mark.... retracted into its stored position in thev storage com- 2,869,957 1 1959 Mark panmem, 2,899,250 8/1959 Mark ..3l2/2l "12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures e I 32 I 6 2 r f 4 I 4 ARM t:

PATENTEfinznzs I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

5 ,5 mmen BY M W f l M CONVERTIBLE END TABLE-DESK BACKGROUND The present invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a combination support and concealed storage means for a typewriter or other equipment.

In a storage unit as described in my US. Pat. No. 2,878,089, a retractable typewriter stand is provided in which the typewriter platform can conveniently be folded and retracted into an attractive storage compartment suitable for use as an end table or the like in a home. In such an arrangement it is desirable to provide relative ease of operation of the retractable typewriter platform and work surface area. To facilitate the operation, therefore, springs are employed which exert an upward force on the typewriter platform to aid in moving the typewriter platform into its extended (i.e. working) position.

When springs are employed to provide a counter force to the'weight of the typewriter, it is necessary to mount the springs on a supportive bottom platform in the storage compartment. The location of the bottom platform and the requirement that the typewriter be at a convenient height for typing when the typewriter platform is in its extended position limits the total depth of the storage-compartment in which the carriage assembly retracts. Additionally, this dimension may be restricted by a storage drawer in the cabinet which is located under the bottom platform. Thus, the vertical dimension of the storage, compartment is rather limited.

Although the springs aid in moving the carriage platform into and out of the storage position, it is also necessary to insure that the carriage assembly will easily slide into and out of the storage compartment without tilting. If the carriage assembly tilts, the carriage assembly and typewriter platform may jam against the sides of the storage compartment or may tip over completely, causing the typewriter to fall into the storage compartment. In the past the carriage assembly has been manufactured to relatively close tolerances such that its edges will slide along guide struts contained on the inner surfaces of the storage compartment to insure this ease of operation. The relatively close tolerances to which the carriage assembly must be manufactured, however, adds increased expense to the cost of the storage unit.

One could increase stability and decrease manufacturing tolerances by increasing the height of the carriage assembly or by extending a wide stabilizer bar down from the bottom of the carriage. However, this would necessitate increasing the depth of the storage compartment from the bottom platform to the top. This is impractical, since typing height requirements place severe limitations on the height of the storage compartment. Thus, the problems posed by carriage tilting have remained heretofore unsolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, I provide an aperture through the bottom platform of the storage compartment and provide guide means in the storage compartment for guiding movement of the carriage assembly. Stabilizing means depend downwardly from the carriage assembly in alignment with the aperture and in cooperating engagement with the guide means. This prevents tilting of the carriage during movement thereof. Further, the stabilizer means is shaped to extend through the aperture when the carriage is retracted.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide an improved combination support and concealed storage means for equipment wherein a stabilizer bar is employed which extends through the bottom platform of the storage compartment when the apparatus is in the stored position.

It is another object of the present invention to facilitate the manufacture of the carriage assembly by providing a stabilizing bar to provide lateral support for the typewriter platform and carriage assembly while it is being extended from-or retracted into the storage compartment.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a typewriter storage compartment which is convertible into a typing stand whereby the typewriter is at a convenient height for typing when the apparatus is in its extended position and wherein the typewriter platform is completely enclosed by the storage compartment when the typewriter is being stored.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the related drawings and by an examination of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage cabinet in its closed position; 1

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the typewriter platform in its extended position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the storage compartment taken along plane III-III of FIG. I, with top, legs, drawer, and carriage assembly removed therefrom, but with the stabilizer shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the carriage assembly, showing the stabilizer;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the storage compartment with the carriage assembly removed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane VIVI of FIG. 2; and

. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane VIIVII of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cabinet 1 includes a storage compartment 10 (FIG. 1) having a bottom 30 (FIG. 5) with an aperture 35 therethrough. Carriage 40 is slidably mounted in storage compartment 10 and can be moved from a stored position (FIGS. 1 and 7) to a raised and operating position (FIGS. 2 and 6) when the top 20 of cabinet 1 is raised. In effect, the sidewall 7, sidewall 9, guide struts 37 and 39 (FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7) and rear wall 6 of storage compartment 10 define guide means for cooperating with stabilizer 45 depending downwardly from the bottom of carriage assembly 40. If carriage 40 begins to tilt, stabilizer 45 contacts sidewall 7, sidewall 9, the guide struts 37 and 39, or rear wall 6 to prevent further tilting. When carriage 40 is lowered to its stored position (FIG. 7), stabilizer 45 extends through aperture 35. Accordingly, the distance which stabilizer 45 depends downwardly from carriage 40 can be increased without increasing the height of cabinet I.

l060l 2 (I378 Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, it is seen that the storage compartment is generally indicated in FIG. 1 as the area of the cabinet. Compartment 10 has aleft sidewall 7, a right sidewall 9, a front wall 8, a rear wall 6, a hinged top 20, and a bottom platform 30. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet 1 may also include a draweror open shelf portion located below the bottom: platform of the, storage compartment. Compartment l0'has an aperture between the bottom platform30 and the rear 'wall 6. Thisaperture can be formed byrnaking the length'dimension of the bottom platform 30 somewhat smaller than the depth of the storage compartment. In .additionto providing structural rigidity to the storage compartment, the bottom platform 30-pro'vides1support means for springs 36 (FIGS. 5 through 7) mounted thereon.

' The storage .compartment further includes guid struts 37 and39 and slide'struts 32 and'34- (FIGS. 3, s,

6, and 7). Guide struts 37 and 39 are mounted on the interior of the sidewalls 7 and 9 respectively as shown and are spaced from the rear wall 6. The spacing is such that they cooperate with the stabilizer associated with the carriage assembly as described below. The slide struts 32 and 34 provide an upper travellimit for the carriage'as'sembly asdscribedbelow in addition to providing a surface over which the work surface slides when the work surface. is brought forward as shown in no.2.

It should be noted that the main tilting problem which I'have encountered is tilting from side to side. Thus, guide struts 37 and 39 are not absolutely necessary; Experience has dictated that the most important guide means are the sidewalls 7 and 9 themselves against which stabilizer; abuts when side to side tilting begins to occur;

The carriage assembly 40 shown in detail in FIG. 4 is a structurally rigid framework comprising a front 7 member 41, side members 42, and a rear member 45 which serves as the stabilizer. A top platform 43 is mounted at the-top of the framework to provide a surface against which the spring members 36' react. A typewriter platform or work surface 18 is mounted to the top platform 43 of the carriage assembly 40 by means of slides '44 located on either side of platform 18 in a manner to allow the platform 18 to be brought'forward relative to the carriage assembly as shown in FIG. 2 during use. Side leaves 17 and 19 are mounted to the work surface 18 by means of hinged members 24 and 26 respectively associated with the leaves. Lifting means such as handles 22 are attached to leaves 17 and 19 to provide the user means for retracting and extending the typewriter platform and carriage assembly into and out of the storage compartment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stabilizer 45 has a thickness which will allow free passage of the stabilizer between struts 37 and 39 (39 not shown in FIG. 3) and the rear wall 6 of the storage compartment, while simultaneously being sufficiently thick to provide fore and aft stability 'for the carriage assembly to which it is mounted. Likewise, the height of the stabilizer 45 is sufficient to aid in preventing fore and aft tilting of the carriage assembly during its transition from its retracted to its extended position. It extends below the level of the rest of the framework, i.e. front member 41 and side member 42, to thereby increase the effective height of carriage 40 from a stabilizing standpoint. Stabilizer 45 is just slightly shorter in length than the width of storage compartment 10. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,,

The use of stabilizer 45, therefore, -increases the stability of the carriage assembly withinthe storagejcompartment 10. Itaccomplishes this result withoutthe need to increase the height of the storage compartment since the stabilizer is shaped to confonn to the aperture 35' in the bottom of the storage compartment and passes therethrough when the carriage assembly is in its retracted position. a a l The carriage assembly 40 is inserted into the compartment 10 by sliding the stabilizer 45 between struts 37 and 39 and therear wall 6 of the storage compartment. The struts 32 and 34 are-put into position once the carriage assembly has been mounted in the storage compartment. These struts provide an upper travel limit such that the carriage assembly will not completely lift out of the storage compartment. The spring members 36 shown in FIGS. 5,6, and 7 are mounted on the bottom platform 30 of the storage compartment and press against the bottom surface of the platform 43 of the carriage assembly to aid the user in lifting the typewriter platform having a typewriter thereon into position for use, by counteracting the weight of the typewriter. I When it is desired to use a typewriter stored in the cabinet 1, top 20 is lifted and locked into place by means of the locking bar. The carriage assembly 40 and typewriter platform are lifted upward by means of the handles 22 until the carriage assembly contacts the struts 32 and 34 as shown in FIG. 6. The typewriter platform 18 is then brought forward and the side leaves 17 and 19 can be lowered into position as shown in FIG. 2 to provide the desired work surface. As the carriage assembly is being lifted into position or being retracted'for storage, the stabilizer 45 slides between the sidewalls and the struts 37 and 39 and the rear wall 6 to prevent tilting of the typewriter platform. The carriage assembly and typewriter platform are retracted by sliding platform 18 rearward, folding the leaf portions 17 and 19 upward, and pressing downward on the platform 18 until the front member 41 of the carriage assembly contacts the base platform 30 as shown in FIG. 7. The stabilizer'45 will extend through the aperture 35 when the carriage assembly and typewriter platform are in the retracted position shown in FIG. 7. By providing an aperture through which the stabilizer can extend, the carriage assembly and typing platform can be compactly stored within compartment 10 By providing a stabilizer and corresponding aperture,

. therefore, the necessary dimensions of the storage Although the preferred embodiment employs a stabilizer in the form of a rectangular bar, it is possible in some applications to employ stabilizer means having a different shape or form. In such case, the aperture in the bottom platform is correspondingly adapted to receive the stabilizing means employed. For example, it would be possible to use separate rectangular members placed at either end of the carriage assembly and extending downward to provide the necessary stabilization for the carriage assembly. In such case, the aperture means in the bottom platform would not need to be a rectangular slot as the in FIG. 5, but could be in he form of rectangular apertures at either side of the bottom platform through which the rectangular stabilizing means could pass when the carriage assembly was in its stored position. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications can be made which would embody the present invention and the means employed in the preferred embodiment described do not limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments of the invention in which I claim exclusive rights and privileges are defined by the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet or the like comprising: a storage compartment having a platform including an aperture therethrough; a carriage assembly slidably mounted in said storage compartment to retract in a direction toward said platform in said storage compartment. and to extendin a direction away from said platform; bias means mounted between said carriage and said platform to counteract the weight of said carriage and objects placed thereon; guide means in said storage compartment for guiding said carriage during sliding movement thereof; stabilizer means depending from said carriage assembly, in alignment with said aperture, and in cooperating engagement with said guide means to prevent tilting of said carriage assembly during extension or retraction thereof; said stabilizer means shaped to extend through said aperture in said platform when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position and in said storage compartment.

2. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage assembly slides in a generally vertical direction into and out of said storage compartment, and wherein said platform in said storage compartment is a bottom platform thereof.

3. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 2 wherein said aperture in said platform of said storage compartment comprises an elongated slot running along an edge of said platform, and wherein aid stabilizer means comprises a rectangular member integrally mounted to said carriage which extends below the level of said carriage a distance which necessitates the extension of said member through said aperture in said platform when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position.

4. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 3 in which said bias means comprises at least one spring mounted on said bottom platform, said carriage assembly being supported on said spring to ease the operation of said carriage assembly during its extension or retraction.

desk-storage cabinet or the like comprising; a

hollow storage compartment having sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom platform having an aperture therethrough; a base platform; a carriage assembly comprising a framework shaped to fit within said storage compartment, said carriage assembly being mounted to said base platform and further being slidably mounted in said storage compartment such that said carriage assembly can be extended from said storage compartment and wherein said carriage assembly can be retracted into said storage compartment for storage; and a stabilizer mounted to said carriage assembly and depending downwardly therefrom for cooperation with at least one of said sidewalls, front wall, and rear wall of said storage compartment to provide stability to said carriage assembly during extension or retraction of said carriage assembly, said stabilizer shaped to pass through said aperture in said bottom platform when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said aperture in said bottom platform comprises a slot in said platform running along an edge of said platform adjacent one of said walls of said storage compartment.

7. Apparatus as defined in, claim 6 wherein said stabilizer is a rectangular member mounted to said carriage assembly and oriented thereon to align with said aperture in said bottom platform, said stabilizer having length and height dimensions sufficient to provide stability to said carriage assembly during extension or retraction.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said aperture is a rectangular slot located adjacent said rear wall of said storage compartment.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said stabilizer comprises a relatively flat rectangular member attached to one side of said carriage assembly, said stabilizer having a length slightly smaller than the width of storage compartment in which it slides, but having a height sufficient to provide lateral stability to said carriage assembly during its extension or retraction.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said aperture in said bottom platform of said storage compartment substantially conforms in shape to the crosssectional area of said stabilizer such that when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position said stabilizer extends through said aperture in said bottom platform.

11. An assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said carriage assembly includes a work surface attached thereto to provide a desk for a typewriter or the like, and wherein spring bias means are coupled from said bottom platform to said carriage assembly to aid in the extension and retraction of said carriage assembly and working surface when a typewriter is mounted thereon.

12. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which said bias means comprises at least one spring mounted 'on said bottom platform; said carriage assembly being supported on said spring to ease the operation of said carriage assembly during its extension or retraction. 

1. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet or the like comprising: a storage compartment having a platform including an aperture therethrough; a carriage assembly slidably mounted in said storage compartment to retract in a direction toward said platform in said storage compartment and to extend in a direction away from said platform; bias means mounted between said carriage and said platform to counteract the weight of said carriage and objects placed thereon; guide means in said storAge compartment for guiding said carriage during sliding movement thereof; stabilizer means depending from said carriage assembly, in alignment with said aperture, and in cooperating engagement with said guide means to prevent tilting of said carriage assembly during extension or retraction thereof; said stabilizer means shaped to extend through said aperture in said platform when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position and in said storage compartment.
 2. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage assembly slides in a generally vertical direction into and out of said storage compartment, and wherein said platform in said storage compartment is a bottom platform thereof.
 3. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 2 wherein said aperture in said platform of said storage compartment comprises an elongated slot running along an edge of said platform, and wherein aid stabilizer means comprises a rectangular member integrally mounted to said carriage which extends below the level of said carriage a distance which necessitates the extension of said member through said aperture in said platform when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position.
 4. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 3 in which said bias means comprises at least one spring mounted on said bottom platform, said carriage assembly being supported on said spring to ease the operation of said carriage assembly during its extension or retraction.
 5. A desk-storage cabinet or the like comprising: a hollow storage compartment having sidewalls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom platform having an aperture therethrough; a base platform; a carriage assembly comprising a framework shaped to fit within said storage compartment, said carriage assembly being mounted to said base platform and further being slidably mounted in said storage compartment such that said carriage assembly can be extended from said storage compartment and wherein said carriage assembly can be retracted into said storage compartment for storage; and a stabilizer mounted to said carriage assembly and depending downwardly therefrom for cooperation with at least one of said sidewalls, front wall, and rear wall of said storage compartment to provide stability to said carriage assembly during extension or retraction of said carriage assembly, said stabilizer shaped to pass through said aperture in said bottom platform when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said aperture in said bottom platform comprises a slot in said platform running along an edge of said platform adjacent one of said walls of said storage compartment.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said stabilizer is a rectangular member mounted to said carriage assembly and oriented thereon to align with said aperture in said bottom platform, said stabilizer having length and height dimensions sufficient to provide stability to said carriage assembly during extension or retraction.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said aperture is a rectangular slot located adjacent said rear wall of said storage compartment.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said stabilizer comprises a relatively flat rectangular member attached to one side of said carriage assembly, said stabilizer having a length slightly smaller than the width of storage compartment in which it slides, but having a height sufficient to provide lateral stability to said carriage assembly during its extension or retraction.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said aperture in said bottom platform of said storage compartment substantially conforms in shape to the cross-sectional area of said stabilizer such that when said carriage assembly is in its retracted position said stabilizer extends through said aperture in said bottom platform.
 11. An assembly as defined in claim 5 wHerein said carriage assembly includes a work surface attached thereto to provide a desk for a typewriter or the like, and wherein spring bias means are coupled from said bottom platform to said carriage assembly to aid in the extension and retraction of said carriage assembly and working surface when a typewriter is mounted thereon.
 12. A combination equipment stand and storage cabinet as defined in claim 1 in which said bias means comprises at least one spring mounted on said bottom platform; said carriage assembly being supported on said spring to ease the operation of said carriage assembly during its extension or retraction. 